Oh, you wanted a twist? RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 18 is full of them! We’ve clocked some shady queens, witnessed messy drama, and heard some shocking critiques. In this exclusive first lewk at this week’s all-new episode, fans will see that RuPaul keeps on keeping the girls on their toes.
The clip begins after last week’s elimination in which Kenya Pleaser successfully defeated Briar Blush in a Lip Sync For Your Life. Shocked, the queens walk back into the Werk Room. “There are moments of Briar that I will be missing. I do think she means well. I do think she’s misunderstood,” says Mia Starr in her confessional. “But Kenya got you, girl.”
As Kenya wipes Briar’s lipstick message from the mirror, Jane Don’t looks on. In her confessional, Jane shares her thoughts: “To see Briar leave now feels like a wakeup call. That confidence and chutzpah are only going to take you so far.” The queens continue to reflect on last week’s events.
“Her passing out in the middle of judging was insane,” says Kenya to the group. “Do you think she saw the writing on the wall and kind of knew her fate and it caught up with her?” asks Athena Dion. “Going up there and getting negative critiques…I can only imagine what was going through her mind, through her body, while that was happening,” says Juicy Love Dion. “But she’s also the kind of person that is a tough cookie to crack,” replies Athena.
“We’re getting to the point where the game is wearing you down,” Jane points out, and the queens nod in agreement. After some debriefing about the maxi challenge in the Werk Room (Vita VonTesse Starr celebrates her win; Discord complains about negative critiques from the judges; Athena defends her outfit), the ladies leave to rest up for the next day.
The following morning, the queens saunter into the Werk Room, and Discord—who has only worn black—shows up in a yellow hoodie. “It’s a new day in the Werk Room. I had to do something different, so I put on some color,” explains Discord in her confessional. “Discord, you’re looking extra bright and shimmery this morning,” exclaims Nini Coco. “Being in the bottom group really broke Discord,” jokes Jane.
“I’m turning over a new leaf. I’m going to be in the top this week. I’m going to be bright and shiny and talkative,” says Discord to the group. “Sometimes when you turn over a new leaf, isn’t it the same leaf?” asks Kenya shadily. As the queens chat among themselves, RuPaul enters the Werk Room to introduce their next Maxi-Challenge.
“It is judgement day,” begins RuPaul. “This week, queens are doing it to whom? Each other!” “What do you mean?” asks Myki Meeks. “Get ready for the Rate-A-Queen talent show… part 1.” “Part 1?” asks Kenya. RuPaul laughs evilly.
“This week, half of you will take the stage to perform a show-stopping talent number, and the other half will watch and rate the performances. The Rate-A-Queen results will determine the tops and bottoms of the week,” says RuPaul to the shocked queens. “Gag,” says Ciara Myst quietly as the girls murmur to each other.
“The top two queens will lip sync for the win. And the bottom queen will lip sync for her life against next week’s bottom from the Rate-A-Queen talent show part 2,” RuPaul continues as the queens gasp. “Now I’ll let you decide who performs which week and the performance order.”
“Too much power,” screams Ciara to the group. Meanwhile, Athena is already plotting. “Rate-A-Queen is back, but I have a strategy,” declares Athena to the confessional camera. “As long as we can stick to it, I think everything will be okay.”
Which queens will perform this week? And who will have to wait and worry? Tune in to an all-new RuPaul’s Drag Race this Friday, January 30th, at 8PM on MTV!